THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Vaisakhi celebrations organised by the Punjabi Listeners Club from Leicester on Saturday 23rd May from 12.30 to 3.30 pm at Kibworth Village Hall, 15 Station Street, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire were made unforgettable by simply the best guests possible.
Gurnam Singh Rupowal, leader of Sangat Group and ex-General Secretary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Sahib welcomed the distinguished guests that included:
His Majesty King Charles’ representative for Leicester and Leicestershire, the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mr. Mike Kapur OBE CSt.J; The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Kulwinder Singh Johal and Lady Mayoress Mrs Manjit Kaur Johal; Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Councillor Linda Danks the first citizen of Leicestershire that has population of more than 700 000 people; Leader of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Councillor Samia Haq; Senior Journalist and Editor of Daily Punjab Times Newspapers Group published in India and Canada Baljit Singh Brar.
The Lord-Lieutenant is the official representative of His Majesty The King for the County of Leicestershire and the City of Leicester. The main duties of the Lieutenancy are to arrange visits of Members of the Royal Family and Escort Royal Visitors; Present medals and awards on behalf of His Majesty. The Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire congratulated everyone on the special occasion of Khalsa Sajna Divas and Vaisakhi.
The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Councillor Linda Danks said it was a such an honour to be the 50th Chairman at the County Council meeting in May of this year. Madam Chair pointed out that citizens of multi-cultural Leicester and Leicestershire live happily side by side and congratulated the organisers for holding the celebrations in Kibworth for the first time. She personally saw the efforts of children who took part in the colouring competition.
The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Kulwinder Singh Johal has created history by becoming the first baptised turban wearing Lord Mayor of Leicester and believes such occasions only happens when the Almighty God wishes it so. Hailing from village Tehang, Jalandhar, Punjab he was General Secretary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurdwara when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the Gurdwara as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. The Lord Mayor of Leicester reminded everyone that thousands of Leicester citizens took part in the annual Vaisakhi religious procession last month which has been taking place for 40 years.
Leader of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Councillor Samia Haq said I have attended number of very important events organised by Punjabi Listeners Club over the years in Gurdwaras, Oadby and Wigston Libraries and Community Centres. They continue to raise awareness about different issues affecting our community such as Look after Your Health events, partition of India as well as Organising Turban Tying and Punjabi Writing Competitions for the younger generation.
Senior Journalist and Editor of Daily Punjab Times Newspapers Group, Jalandhar, Punjab published in Punjabi and English in India and Canada Mr Baljit Singh Brar, who came especially for the Vaisakhi Celebrations event from India, commented it is such an honour to be in the presence among such high distinguished guests for which Mr Tarlochan Singh Virk and his team of Punjabi Listeners Club must be congratulated.
Speaking from the stage Davinder Singh Dhesi LLR said “It was a pleasure to attend the Vaisakhi Celebrations. Organisers put up an impressive information display highlighting the glorious period of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab. There were many successes in the Maharaja Ranjit Singh reign during which period all citizens had the opportunity to freely practice their religion, no executions took place. Ranjit Singh built places of worships for Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims alike. He was fully inclusive and people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds served in his administration staff and armed forces at all levels from including those who were his advisors.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s daughter Princess Sophia Duleep Singh made contributions in the Suffragette Movement which ultimately led to women to being allowed to vote in England and United Kingdom.”
Jaspal Singh Kang of Sikh Federation UK and ex-Stage Secretary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara managed the stage for the Punjabi part of the guests and read a poem from Jathedar Mohinder Singh Khera UK. Other contributors who read poems regarding Khalsa Sajna Divas / Vaisakhi included well known writer Randhir Singh Sambhal of Gurdwara Sri Dasmesh Sahib, Gipsy Lane, Leicester, Councillor Santokh Singh Athwal, Kehar Singh and Kulwinder Kaur from Mata Gujar Kaur Library of Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara and Balbir Kaur.
Punjabi Listeners Club was formed on the 3rd Anniversary of BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme on 9 September 1995, promotes Punjabi Language, Culture and Sikh religion. The club celebrated its 30th Anniversary in September 2025 and has raised thousands of pounds for UK registered charities such as children In Need, Wishes4Kids, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Charities, Khalsa Aid, various Lord Mayors’ charities
Banda Singh Bahadur established the first Sikh Empire in 1710 after being baptised by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Sikh Guru at Nanded in Maharashtra state of India. Banda Singh Bahadur abolished the Zamindari system and gave land rights to tillers. The Sikh Empire during Maharaja Ranjit Singh extended from Afghanistan to Delhi but was divided into India and Pakistan in 1947.
“Punjabi Listeners Club’s latest initiative Vaisakhi Celebrations includes The Sikh Empire Exhibition spanning from Banda Singh Bahadur to Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji is particularly noteworthy. It highlights the establishment of a governance and enduring legacy. I extend my best wishes for the successful impact of this event. …Prof { Dr. } Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Vice Chancellor, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Punjab, India. “
The colouring competition was won by Jugraj Singh Kang who attends the Oadby Punjabi School. He was presented with four books by the Lord- Lieutenant of Leicestershire and Chairman of Leicestershire County Council.
The Guest of Honour Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mr Mike Kapur OBE CStJ was presented with model of Sri Harmandir Sahib { Golden Temple}, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Linda Danks was presented with a framed photo of Harmandir Sahib 1832, The Lord Mayor of Leicester was presented with framed photo of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Court { Darbar}, Leader of OWBC Samia Haq was presented with a trophy and Baljit Singh Brar was presented with trophy of a Pen and framed photo of Banda Singh Bahadur.
The event raised £171 for the Lord Mayor’s Charities the Midland Langar Sewa Society and Leicester Hospitals Charities. Due to extensive programmes booked at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib and Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Sahib both their Presidents Ajmer Singh Basra and Gurnam Singh Rai sent their apologies and were unable to attend the celebrations. They both sent their congratulations on Khalsa Sajna Divas.
Panthic Sewadar and Author Jaspal Singh Bains who was due to release his latest book Khalsa Freedom Charter, Tarlochan Singh Chan Jandalvi who has written 22 books in Punjabi and Gurpreet Kaur {BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme Presenter 1992-2012} could not attend the celebrations due to unavoidable circumstances and sent their good wishes.
On behalf of the organisers Tarlochan Singh Virk, Co-Ordinator Punjabi Listeners Club wish to thank Gurdwara Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji, Oadby, the Lieutenancy Office of Leicestershire Council, the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s Office, all the guests, everyone who contributed to the donation towards the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s charities and Dr. Kevin Feltham ex-Chairman of Leicestershire County Council and Josie of Kibworth Village Hall for all their assistance in making the Vaisakhi Celebrations successful and memorable.
